Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a list of newspaper and media subscriptions paid for by his Department for (a) the Director of Communications, (b) the Press Secretary and (c) other staff based at 10 Downing Street by (i) publication title, (ii) cost and (iii) date the subscription commenced since July 2024.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 21 May 2026, Official Report, PQ 2387.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to provide immediate financial assistance or supply chain interventions to support UK independent pig farmers following price changes.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG), formed by Defra and the Devolved Governments, has routinely followed the changes in pigmeat prices, including their recent downturn after several years of strong prices.

The Department does not consider there is a case for support in the pig sector at this time but will continue to monitor the situation, including through the UKAMMG and regular engagement with industry.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and other relevant bodies on having the War Pension Unemployability Supplement formally recognised as a qualifying benefit equivalent to income-replacement benefits.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The status of the War Pension Unemployability Supplement as a qualifying benefit for passporting purposes is set through regulations by the relevant departments. The Ministry of Defence does not have the authority to amend this status and has not made formal representations on its recognition as equivalent to income-replacement benefits.

We continue to work closely with partner departments to support veterans and will keep this issue under review in line with wider government policy.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential economic impact on British independent pig farmers of Spanish pork imports being diverted into the UK market following Spain’s loss of Chinese export contracts due to African Swine Fever; and what safeguards or tariffs can be deployed under current trade frameworks to prevent domestic producers from being undercut by state-subsidised or market-distorted foreign imports.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government routinely monitors imports of sensitive agricultural products for any unforeseen surges that could impact domestic industry. Imports from Spain currently account for 9.5% of UK pigmeat imports on a country-of-origin basis.

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement – as is usual in trade agreements - confirms that both parties retain rights on trade remedies, including anti-dumping measures and WTO safeguards under GATT Article XIX. The Trade Remedies Authority investigates cases where imports may cause serious injury to domestic industries.

The UK also maintains robust sanitary and phytosanitary controls; in cases such as African Swine Fever, import restrictions and certification requirements apply.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to mandate equitable, legally binding, cost-of-production contracts between major supermarkets, processors and independent pig farmers.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The ‘Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations’ aim to strengthen the pig sector by improving how contracts operate and giving farmers more control over how they sell their pigs.

They introduce statutory requirements for written contracts between pig producers and purchasers, supporting more transparent and equitable supply arrangements across the supply chain, including processors supplying major retailers.

The FDOP are the result of extensive consultation with farmers, producer groups and the wider industry. They have applied to any new contracts since August 2025 and will come into force fully (for all contracts) from August 2026.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the recent outbreak of African Swine Fever in wild boar in Spain, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Spanish pork imports from outside the restricted containment zones do not carry the virus into the UK; and what measures are in place to intercept and penalise import vehicles that bypass mandatory veterinary and biosecurity checks at inland Border Control Posts.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Commercial imports of pork and pork products from Spain into Great Britain must be accompanied by health certification signed by an official veterinarian, attesting compliance with animal health requirements to mitigate the risk of spread of African swine fever.

Importers must make customs declarations and pre-notify arrival to an approved Border Control Post (BCP). Customs holds are in place until the goods have passed BCP checks. Consignments bypassing checks are followed up by the relevant competent authorities.

Border Force carries out customs checks at ports and airports aimed at intercepting non-compliant goods.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of road safety conditions on the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness with regard to road lay out, traffic flows and vehicle types; and what steps she is taking with the Scottish Government to reduce the number of road users killed and seriously injured on that route.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Road safety policy in Scotland is fully devolved, and responsibility for the operation, maintenance and safety of the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness rests with the Scottish Government and its agency, Transport Scotland.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Patricia Ferguson (Chair); Maureen Burke; Harriet Cross; Dave Doogan

Submit Evidence (by 31 Jul 2026)

Gaelic remains an important part of Scotland’s cultural identity and, despite a long-term decline in its use, the latest census indicates an increase in the number of people with Gaelic language skills.